by the Bergen County Historical Society
Historic New Bridge Landing , on November 20th, 1776, five thousand British, Hessian and Loyalist troops, under command of Lt. Gen. Lord Cornwallis, scaled the Palisades at Lower Closter Dock and marched against Fort Lee. Warned by an alert officer, the American garrison escaped entrapment by safely crossing the Hackensack River at New Bridge, now known as “the Bridge That Saved a Nation,” and lived to fight another day. To mark the 245th Anniversary of the “times that try men’s souls,” the Bergen County Historical Society, along with the Brigade of the American Revolution, will co-sponsor a day of living history on Sunday, November 21st 10 am-4 pm. 1201 Main Street, River Edge NJ.
At 10:30 am, the retreating troops will arrive from Fort Lee and engage in a battle for the bridge in a tactical weapons demonstration portraying the action that occurred when British troops forced the Continental Army away from the area and captured this vital crossing point over the Hackensack River.
Walk in the footsteps were history was made as you visit the state historic site, Von Steuben House which was a silent witness to the Retreat and one of the last surviving 18th structures along the Retreat Route in Bergen County. A special exhibit has been set up “New Bridge in the American Revolution: Artifacts and Maps” which includes enlargements on nine period maps and Revolutionary War artifacts from their extensive collection.
Three historic Bergen County Dutch Sandstone houses will be open along with the replica 18th century outkitchen, staffed with the Society’s trained docents. Activities will occur throughout the day, including a recreation of the raising of the loyalist unit, IV NJ Volunteers, which occurred at New Bridge following Washington’s Retreat. Will you join in and be loyal? Along with activities for young and old alike. Living historians will be on site throughout the day to discuss “the times that tried men’s souls.”
Per the state parks’ guidelines, face masks are required inside all historical buildings.
Ticket reservations are required: $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free.
Free parking available on site or take the train to the “New Bridge Landing” station of the Pascack Valley Line.
Dogs on are permitted on site on a leash but not in the houses.
Tickets available here or at the gate. Questions – email: info@bergencountyhistory.org , or call 201-343-9492 and leave a message.
The event is subject to change.
Remember that by December 1776 the patriots were in the midst of a bitter cold winter with little more than true grit to hold them together. General Washington ordered every officer to read The American Crisis by Thomas Paine to the troops. It provided them with the will to keep fighting for our liberty from the tyrannical King of England. On Christmas Eve General Washington prayed to God then assembled his army and crossed the half frozen Delaware River to surprise and conquer the Hessians at Trenton NJ. It was a small win militarily speaking but a major boost to the much needed morale of Washington’s troops. And it was a wake up call to the King of England that Americans were not going to give up their fight for liberty.
Patriots of 2021 can learn this lesson: small victories add up and the grand prize can still be had through grit and determination. The recent Republican election victories in NJ and VA are not to be taken lightly. We must now keep that momentum going to fully win back the House and the Senate in November 2022 and save our country from the progressive/socialist Marxist wing of the Democrat party and fake Republicans (RINOs like Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney).
Review candidates voting records and then vote against all Biden socialists. Vote them all out in the November 2022 election. Save our Constitution. Save our country. General Washington would be proud of you.